Archive Articles
News - Nov 2021
Visit our family and local history research station
Did you know we have a new research table located on our first floor, just outside the Cottonian Research Room? If you, or anyone you know, would like some help with family or local history research it's a great place to start.
News - Oct 2021
Last chance to see 'Screens in Salons'
It’s your last chance to catch a curated selection of films from The Box’s archive collections in salons across the city.
History - Oct 2021
Would you like to help research Plymouth and west Devon in the 1920s?
'Devon in the 1920s' is a research project hosted by Devon History Society in partnership with The Box, the South West Heritage Trust and the Devon Family History Society. Individual researchers and local heritage groups are currently beavering away, researching local people and places from the 1920s.
News - Aug 2021
Archive Insight: The 1948 Summer Olympics
The Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics are well under way and it’s been fantastic to see Team GB celebrating medal success. The coverage has been bringing back memories of the 2012 Summer Olympics when London became the first city to host the modern games three times.
News - Apr 2021
HRH Prince Philip
In memory of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich (10 June 1921 - 9 April 2021).
History - Apr 2021
Blitz 80: Images from the archives
Royal visits, the role of women, that famous Resurgam sign and the re-building of the city.....here are some more insights about Plymouth and World War II to mark Blitz 80 using some key images from our archives.
History - Apr 2021
Blitz 80: Insights from the archives
We'll be continuing to mark the 80th anniversary of the Blitz throughout April. Here, thanks to documents held within the city's archives, we highlight two lesser-known stories about Plymouth during the Second World War.
History - Apr 2021
Blitz 80: The Bomb Book
We continue our commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the Plymouth Blitz with a document, well-known to many as the ‘bomb book’. It was compiled during World War II by the Town Clerk’s Department, which was based at Pounds House. It and can be seen on display in our 'Active Archives' gallery.
History - Mar 2021
Blitz 80: The bombing of the Westminster Hotel
Like many other British cities, Plymouth was a target for aerial bombardment by the German airforce during the Second World War with the most intense air raids taking place between 20 March and 30 April 1941. At least 1,140 high explosive bombs, 17 paramines and thousands of incendiaries were dropped. Behind these stark statistics lie the poignant stories of people.
Press Release - Mar 2021
International Women's Day 2021: Capturing a moment in time
For 2021's International Women's Day, we take a look at an unusual gem from our archives - an autograph book that dates from an important year in women’s history and which reveals some surprising attitudes.
News - Jan 2021
Discovering gems in the collections
After spending years transferring our film and photographic collections to The Box, we always knew there’d be some hidden gems waiting to be discovered! We recently discovered of a set of original glass plates showing Argyle legend Jack Leslie playing football in the 1920s – and now we’ve uncovered another photographic gem.
History - Jan 2021
A letter to home from World War I
This week is ‘Universal Letter Writing Week’ – an annual event designed to encourage us to take up pen and paper and write to someone. In this digital age, methods of communication have certainly changed and we’re now more likely to message someone with our mobile phone or send them an email – making the act of writing or receiving a handwritten letter quite special.